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September Surprises

It is always a thrill to stumble across a plant that I may have forgotten about or one that does something unexpected. That has happened several times over the past weeks.  First, the vine pictured above is the Eastern Prince Schisandra vine ( Schinensis chinensis ), also known as "Magnolia Vine".  I purchased it in May of 2023 from One Green World in Portland. I don't know what attracted me to it, other than the fact that I'd never heard of it before and the description sounded nice.  I didn't forget about this plant; in fact, it has grown quite vigorously up an archway at the entrance to our woodland path. It shares space alongside the rose 'Lamarque'.  I did forget that it produces berries, so I was surprised when I looked up and saw them dangling over the top of the arbor.  The berries are used in Chinese medicine. They are called the "Five Flavor Berry" and said to have five flavors in one - sweet, salty, bitter, tangy and sour.  Chinese le...

Broccoli Salad


This is one of my favorite recipes and a very simple one. Some of the ingredients are optional, such as the cheese and tomato. 

1 large broccoli head (or 3-4 cups)
6-8 slices of crispy bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 cup green onions (or red onions)
1/2 cup raisins
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, cubed or grated
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup sliced grape tomatoes (or any type tomato) 

Cut the broccoli heads into bite-sized pieces. 

Place in a large bowl and add the chopped bacon, onions, raisins, cheese and tomato.

In a small separate bowl, mixed the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Mix well and drizzle over the broccoli mixture. 

Toss gently and refrigerate.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Any salad that includes cheese and bacon is a winner in my book!

    ReplyDelete

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